Overview

• The CIA has offered voluntary buyouts to all employees as part of a restructuring effort under President Trump's administration.
• Newly confirmed CIA Director John Ratcliffe is spearheading the changes to align the agency with the administration's national security goals, including a focus on China and drug cartels.
• The buyout program includes approximately eight months of salary and benefits for employees who choose to leave, though restrictions apply to critical roles.
• The agency has also suspended new hiring and may revoke offers to candidates who do not meet revised qualifications for the CIA's updated mission priorities.
• Critics argue the initiative is part of a broader effort by Trump to reduce federal agencies and potentially replace career officials with loyalists, while supporters claim it is aimed at increasing efficiency.